He said the gesture could be intrepreted as the Politburo subjecting itself to 'supervision' by the Central Committee.

Professor Ye, writing in the latest issue of Outlook Weekly, published by Xinhua, said the decision also meant that provincial party leaderships were expected to follow suit.

It represented the latest effort by the party leadership under General Secretary Hu Jintao to reinvigorate the party and further promote democracy within its ranks, Professor Ye wrote.

'Without doubt, this is a manifestation of a relationship ... between the supervised and the supervisor,' he said. 'This arrangement represents efforts by comrade Hu Jintao to open a new chapter for local party committees to institute their own reporting system. This will establish a very good example and a system will gradually be formed and mature as experience is accumulated.'

Xinhua announced last month that the plenary session would be held next month. Although discussions on economic reforms and amendments of the constitution are on the agenda, delivery of the Politburo work report tops the list.

The Politburo is not mandated to give a work report to the Central Committee. Party leaders have, however, made reports to the Central Committee on various issues in the past. The forthcoming third plenum carries special weight as it has traditionally been the time for a new generation of leaders to promote their longer-term goals. Deng Xiaoping used the occasion in 1978 to launch his historic series of economic reforms.

The professor was optimistic that party culture was about to be changed under Mr Hu's leadership.

He listed a number of initiatives undertaken by Mr Hu since he became general secretary last November to bring greater transparency to the party, including more frequent reports on Politburo decisions and activities.

'All these have aroused great interest among local leaders ... and many are following suit. This will cause great changes to political life in our country and the party.'

He said the decision to include the work report was a sign of bigger things to come. 'This is without doubt a sign ... that reforms of our [political] mechanism and system are in the pipeline.'

Since he became general secretary at the 16th Communist Party Congress, Mr Hu has presented a public image of openness and of being close to the grassroots.

With Premier Wen Jiabao, he has visited the provinces several times, always emphasising the importance of the party keeping its roots as a 'people's party'.

Last July, Mr Hu gave a speech in which he urged cadres to act as public servants and 'govern the country for the people'.